ACLJ: Obama Won’t Help American Pastor Held in Iran

“We also remain deeply concerned that the Iranians have not yet granted access to him by our Swiss protecting power. We continue to believe he should be released immediately.”

White House spokesman Jay Carney also called for Abedini’s release.

But so far there have been no public pronouncements from either the president or secretary of state and the ACLJ said that’s troubling.

The lackluster support for Abedini stands in stark contrast to how the administration handled two other high profile incidents.

In 2009 President Obama dispatched former President Clinton to North Korea – where he succeeded in winning the release of two American journalists.

In 2011 the White House released more than a dozen mentions of three American hikers arrested and put on trial in Iran. President Obama issued a lengthy statement condemning their capture and demanding their release.

The White House also published links to websites supporting the hikers.

By comparison – according to a search of the White House online archives there have only been three mentions of Abedini – and one of those included Press Secretary Jay Carney saying he had no information about the incident.

“Our president and our secretary of state need to speak out for Saeed,” Sekulow said.

Naghmeh Abedini said that her husband has been suffering in the Iranian prison.

“He’s been beaten, tortured – suffering internal bleeding and suffering from medical issues,” she said. “He’s been there long enough.”

She appealed to President Obama as one parent to another – but so far – the administration has not responded.

“I would expect him to step in and demand his release,” she said. “I would expect our government to take every action to want him released now. Every day in there is horrific and he’s only there because of his religious belief.”

The Abedinis have two young children – Rebekkah 6, and Jacob 4 – and Nagmeh said that it’s been difficult raising her children as a single mother.

“The kids don’t understand,” she said. “My daughter has cried out, ‘Daddy, where are you? Daddy why aren’t you coming home? Daddy, I miss you.’” And she’ll start talking to him at night and just crying and I hold her as she has tears coming down her face. She’s only six years old.”

“It’s just hard seeing them in so much pain but you can’t do anything about it,” she said.

The Iranians told the Abedini that if he renounced his faith in Jesus Christ – he might be released. But in a letter he wrote to his wife, the American pastor said that won’t happen.

“Saeed is pretty stubborn,” she said. “He won’t give in. I smiled to myself and said, they don’t know who they are dealing with. He’s a pretty stubborn person when it comes to his faith.”

The most difficult part of their ordeal has been bedtime rituals – when Saeed would sing songs with his children.

“They still ask me to sing the songs that he used to sing to them,” she said. “And for them it’s comforting – but for me it’s heartbreaking. It’s remembering him.”

Todd Starnes is the host of Fox News & Commentary – heard daily on 250+ radio stations. He’s also the author of “Dispatches From Bitter America.” To check out all of his work you can visit his website or follow him on Twitter @toddstarnes. In his spare time, Todd is active in his church, plays golf, follows SEC football, and eats barbecue. He lives in New York City.